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Salisbury N. C. 30 March 1865 |
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| Capt. Motley |
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Richmond |
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Dear Sir, |
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After much trouble to get on board the cars
{Richmond & Danville RR}, Mr. ??? and
myself left Richmond early Sunday morning last, and though we had to
run much risk of life and limb by the smashing up of three box cars,
one of which we were on, about mid-way to Danville, we arrived at that
place about 7 p. m. that evening. Remaining at Danville until 10 a. m.
next day, we set out for Greensboro {Piedmont
RR}, arriving at this latter place about 3 1/2 p. m. of that
day. Here we had to stay until 10 a. m. of Tuesday, when we set out
again {North Carolina RR}, and arrived
here safely about 8 p.m. of that day. |
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Our trip down here was by no means a pleasant one. The
cars were crowded to their utmost capacity. Vast numbers of paroled
prisoners were aboard going home on furlough. The travel going and
coming seems to be immense. The chest of Rations was much in
the way coming down, for by the time we could get it on, every body
else going the same way had nearly all obtained the best places, so
that we had to take just such places as we could get, not such as we
would have chosen. However as we succeeded in getting it through we
now find it to be very useful. |
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Immediately the next morning after getting here, I called
on Major Morfit the Post Q. M. and exhibited to him my orders. He
referred me to Capt. T. R. Sharp A. Q. M. the Transportation Q. M.
here, who pointed out a sort of shed warehouse, in bad condition, as
the only receptacle I could get for the stores. After examining it, I
reported its condition to Capt. Sharp and asked him if I could get
help, to have it cleaned out and otherwise fixed up. He remarked he
had no hands to do this, and further that his duties related only to
Transportation and the delivery of stores arriving here, and not to
the storage of them, but said that he would see Major Morfit about the
matter. I will wait a little while for them to consult, when I will
see again about it. They are somewhat crusty, and for this I forbear
troubling them as much as possible. |
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Salisbury is a very pretty place, on level ground, but is
just as bad as Gordonsville for mud in wet weather. It is raining here
today, so about this you see I have ready observation. Greensboro is
as pretty a place as this, and it seems to me would be fully as good a
place for business as this. And I do not see why Danville would not do
as well as either of these. Meat and bread perhaps is more plentiful
here in Carolina than in Virginia, but is scarcely any cheaper, and as
to mdse generally, it is as high, and in a great majority of
cases, vastly higher, than in Richmond. These Carolinians are very
fond of Confed. money, for they want a big pile of it for most any
thing you want to buy of them. My impression out here is not a good
one, and so I would like to return to Virginia as soon as
circumstances will admit, for I do not want to stay here any longer
than is necessary. I do not think our Department will like here any
better perhaps than myself, but if they have to come, they can then
judge for themselves. I should greatly prefer Lynchburg Va, if I could
get there. |
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I would be very glad, Captain, if you or Mr. Moyers, or
our little shop, or any of the boys would write to me. I would like to
know what is going on in the Deptmt, what is being done, &c. I would
like to know too, if you have seen Major Richards, or conferred with
him about the transfer of his stores, &c. to this place, what he says
about it, whether he is coming here himself or not, and the
programme generally for us. I am in the dark about all these
matters, and feel very curious to know. |
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No stores of ours have as yet reached here. I enclose a
letter for my wife. If the Central RR is not fixed up, and the mails
are not running on it, please send it up by the first safe opportunity
to be mailed at Gordonsville, from which place the mails will
doubtless take it to her Post Office. If the mails are running on the
Central RR, then you can mail it at Richmond. |
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This leaves us both well |
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Very Respectfully, Captain, |
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Your obdt. svt. |
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John G. Herndon |
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Our quarters at present are in an open box car. The QMr provided no
place for us. |
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